Three Powerful Ways to Encourage and Celebrate
When I moved to Kansas City 16 years ago, I became a Chiefs fan by default. I would never claim to be a die hard fan, but I do enjoy watching the team! Especially in these past several years, of course, when the Chiefs have excelled. It’s pretty fun to watch Patrick Mahomes and his teammates working their magic out on the field.
One thing I love is how purposefully Mahomes runs toward receivers after they’ve caught his touchdown passes. After he’s made the throw, and the receiver has made the catch, the cameras usually come back to Mahomes, and he is always sprinting toward the victorious player who’s just scored. And I truly mean sprinting… He’s excited! His eyes are locked in on the player he’s running toward, and he is very intentionally beelining for him so they can celebrate together. It’s just such a beautiful picture of camaraderie, encouragement and teamwork!
Of course, it got me thinking about how intentional I am (or am not) about celebrating the people in my life. If my camaraderie and encouragement was described in football terms, would someone say I just head toward the sideline when I see someone else succeed so I can sit down, rest and get ready for my next move? Or do I kinda stand around waiting until that person gets close to me so I can give him/her a hug or a high five? Do I just jog toward the victor casually—getting there when I get there, however and whenever that happens? Or am I sprinting purposefully and intentionally toward the other person to celebrate his/her success and offer praise and encouragement?
Which visualization best describes you? Are you passive? Casual? Intentional?
Just as Mahomes sprints toward Travis Kelce after he’s snagged a touchdown catch, I believe God calls us to be excited and energetic about coming alongside the people around us, whether they’re celebrating or struggling. If there was one person in the Bible who you might imagine intentionally beelining from person to person, church to church, celebrating, encouraging and working together with people to accomplish something, who would that be? My mind immediately goes to Paul. Can’t you just close your eyes and picture him zipping from one place to another, doling out encouragement and praise as he goes? From Antioch to Galacia to Ephesus to Berea to Thessalonica back to Antioch to Corinth and so on and so on. (Cities not listed in any particular order.)
As he traveled from place to place, Paul was building the early church by preaching the Good News of Jesus and encouraging new believers along in their faith walks. Much of the book of Acts chronicles his journeys throughout the present day countries of Israel, Syria, Turkey and Greece. Sources say he logged more than 10,000 miles!
He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people. -Acts 20:2a
And when he wasn’t in a city, he was often writing letters to the people of that city! …to keep them encouraged, to correct them as needed, and to nudge them forward in their relationships with God. We can read Paul’s letters in the Bible. Check out 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. These books are full of encouraging words from Paul, many of them dripping with thanksgiving and admiration. For example:
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. -Ephesians 1:15-16
Although I am neither Paul nor Patrick Mahomes, I can take notes from these two about how to celebrate, encourage and motivate the people around me. Here are three key elements of encouragement I’m working on putting into practice:
- PRESENCE. Patrick Mahomes does not just acknowledge his teammate from afar, he sprints toward him so he can be near him. Similarly, Paul did not spread the Gospel by only sending out messengers and messages to people far away. He traveled to them! He got to know them, spent time with them, modeled for them how to live, and helped them. Rather than just sending a congratulatory text, can you take your friend out to dinner to celebrate her recent success? When you find out a colleague had a rough day, can you stop by his office instead of just sending an email? Presence is powerful, and presence matters.
- SPOKEN WORDS. What are you saying to people? Obviously, Paul was preaching about Jesus! Mahomes, on the other hand, is maybe expressing his excitement with such emotion that it would be inappropriate to repeat on this blog post. Ha! But no matter what he’s saying, he certainly doesn’t celebrate with a teammate in silence, and Paul didn’t, either. What are you saying to people? If you think something kind, encouraging or celebratory, speak it out loud!! There’s no need for that to stay hidden away inside your mind. Be generous with the positive things you say to family members, friends, colleagues and people you encounter throughout your day. Whether in person or through a phone call, words matter. I’m guessing you can think of some memorable words spoken to you at one point in your life… Words stick with you. Speak them!
- WRITTEN WORDS. When Paul couldn’t be there in person to encourage through his presence or his spoken words, he was sending letters. Of course, we could modify this today and send texts and emails, but what if you actually sent a physical letter to somebody just like Paul did regularly? First of all, that person will likely be shocked. And then? He/she will take those words to heart. Your words will hit deeper than they would have through text or email because you took the time to write them down and deliver them (through the mail, by hand, or however). You made it personal! Just imagine the potential impact. Can you challenge yourself to write one note each month this year?
If not all three of these suggestions, surely one of them resonates with you and can be added to your agenda immediately. Do it today! Don’t let another day pass without celebrating, encouraging, praising and lifting up another one of God’s children. Jesus’ return to earth gets closer each day. Let’s help one another be built up and ready when He gets here.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -Hebrews 10:24-25